Constitutional Judges: What Powers Does the House of Representatives Have?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18196/jmh.v32i1.23842Keywords:
Constitutional Court, Constitutional Judges, Constitutional Law, House of RepresentativesAbstract
The House of Representatives did not extend the term of constitutional judge Aswanto on September 29, 2022, because Aswanto regularly nullified laws that they passed. This action was taken against the Indonesian legal system with the House of Representatives' authority to remove constitutional judges' and constitutional judges' independence. Accordingly, this paper will employ normative research approaches to assess the House of Representatives' influence over Constitutional Judges. The findings revealed that the Supreme Court, the President, and the House of Representatives proposed the constitutional judges. Each proposed institution is given the ability to nominate and choose constitutional judges. Meanwhile, the dismissal of constitutional judges is governed by Article 24C paragraph (6) of the 1945 Indonesian Constitution. Dismissal of constitutional judges is determined by Presidential decree at the request of the chief of the constitutional court. As a result, the House of Representatives’ decision to dismiss constitutional judge Aswanto violates the Indonesian Constitution.
References
Abebe, Adem Kassie, ‘Taming Regressive Constitutional Amendments: The African Court as a Continental (Super) Constitutional Court’, International Journal of Constitutional Law, 17.1 (2019), 89–117. https://doi.org/10.1093/icon/moz006.
Alter, Karen J, and Michael Zürn, ‘Conceptualising Backlash Politics: Introduction to a Special Issue on Backlash Politics in Comparison’, The British Journal of Politics and International Relations, 22.4 (2020), 563–84. https://doi.org/10.1177/1369148120947958.
Arana Araya, Ignacio, Melanie M. Hughes, and Aníbal Pérez‐Liñán, ‘Judicial Reshuffles and Women Justices in Latin America’, American Journal of Political Science, 65.2 (2021), 373–88. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajps.12543.
Arrington, Nancy, Leeann Bass, Adam Glynn, Jeffrey K. Staton, Brian Delgado, and Staffan I. Lindberg, ‘Constitutional Reform and the Gender Diversification of Peak Courts’, American Political Science Review, 115.3 (2021), 851–68. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055421000071.
Asrinaldi, Mohammad Agus Yusoff, and dan Zamzami Abdul Karim, ‘Oligarchy in the Jokowi Government and Its Influence on the Implementation of Legislative Function in Indonesia’, Asian Journal of Comparative Politics, 7.2 (2022), 189–203. https://doi.org/10.1177/2057891121995564.
Baer, Susanne, ‘Who Cares? A Defence of Judicial Review’, Journal of the British Academy, 8 (2020), 75–104. https://doi.org/10.5871/jba/008.075.
Bárd, Petra, ‘In Courts We Trust, or Should We? Judicial Independence as the Precondition for the Effectiveness of EU Law’, European Law Journal, 27.1–3 (2021), 185–210. https://doi.org/10.1111/eulj.12425.
Bellamy, Richard, and Sandra Kröger, ‘Countering Democratic Backsliding by EU Member States: Constitutional Pluralism and “Value” Differentiated Integration’, Swiss Political Science Review, 27.3 (2021), 619–36. https://doi.org/10.1111/spsr.12448.
Berggren, Niclas, and Jerg Gutmann, ‘Securing Personal Freedom through Institutions: The Role of Electoral Democracy and Judicial Independence’, European Journal of Law and Economics, 49.2 (2020), 165–86. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10657-020-09643-9.
Bojarski, Łukasz, ‘Civil Society Organizations for and with the Courts and Judges—Struggle for the Rule of Law and Judicial Independence: The Case of Poland 1976–2020’, German Law Journal, 22.7 (2021), 1344–84. https://doi.org/10.1017/glj.2021.72.
Braunstein, Ruth, ‘A Theory of Political Backlash: Assessing the Religious Right’s Effects on the Religious Field’, Sociology of Religion, 83.3 (2022), 293–323. https://doi.org/10.1093/socrel/srab050.
Bustos Gisbert, Rafael, ‘Judicial Independence in European Constitutional Law’, European Constitutional Law Review, 18.4 (2022), 591–620. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1574019622000347.
Da Ros, Luciano, and Matthew M. Taylor, ‘Checks and Balances: The Concept and Its Implications for Corruption’, Revista Direito GV, 17.2 (2021), 1–30. https://doi.org/10.1590/2317-6172202120.
De Visser, Maartje, ‘Constitutional Judges as Agents for Development’, Law and Development Review, 12.3 (2019), 691–722. https://doi.org/10.1515/ldr-2019-0042.
Faiz, Pan Mohamad, Saldi Isra, and Oly Viana Agustine, ‘Strengthening Indonesia’s Regional Representative Council Through Judicial Review by the Constitutional Court’, SAGE Open, 13.4 (2023), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231204408.
Fałkowski, Jan, and Jacek Lewkowicz, ‘Are Adjudication Panels Strategically Selected? The Case of Constitutional Court in Poland’, International Review of Law and Economics, 65 (2021), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.irle.2020.105950.
Grabowska-Moroz, Barbara, and Olga Śniadach, ‘The Role of Civil Society in Protecting Judicial Independence in Times of Rule of Law Backsliding in Poland’, Utrecht Law Review, 17.2 (2021), 56–69. https://doi.org/10.36633/ulr.673.
Gratton, Gabriele, and Massimo Morelli, ‘Optimal Checks and Balances Under Policy Uncertainty’, International Economic Review, 63.2 (2022), 549–69. https://doi.org/10.1111/iere.12547.
Gunawan, Angelene Vivian, and Rasji, ‘Political Recalling of Constitutional Judge by the House of Representatives (DPR): Interference Against the Independence of Indonesian Constitutional Court’, Journal of Law, Policy and Globalization, 135.0 (2023), 94–112. https://doi.org/10.7176/JLPG/135-11.
Gunawan, Yordan, ‘Arbitration Award of Icsid on the Investment Disputes of Churchill Mining Plc v. Republic of Indonesia’, Hasanuddin Law Review, 3.1 (2017), 14–26. https://doi.org/10.20956/halrev.v3i1.948.
Gunawan, Yordan, Arif Budiman, Nafiza Fauziah, and Wa Ode Fithrah Az Zalia Syamsudin, ‘Journalist Protection on the Battlefield Under the International Humanitarian Law: Russia-Ukraine War’, Jurnal Hukum Unissula, 39.1 (2023), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.26532/jh.v39i1.24685.
Gunawan, Yordan, and Hanna Nur Afifah Yogar, ‘Indonesia E-Hailing Taxi: The Competition between Law and Technology’, Handbook of Research on Innovation and Development of E-Commerce and E-Business in ASEAN, 2 (2020), 594–606. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-4984-1.
Hasani, Enver, and Getoar Mjeku, ‘International(Ized) Constitutional Court: Kosovo’s Transfer of Judicial Sovereignty’, ICL Journal, 13.4 (2020), 373–402. https://doi.org/10.1515/icl-2019-0016.
Huda, Ni’matul, Dodik Setiawan Nur Heriyanto, and Allan Fatchan Gani Wardhana, ‘The Urgency of the Constitutional Preview of Law on the Ratification of International Treaty by the Constitutional Court in Indonesia’, Heliyon, 7.9 (2021), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07886.
Imran, Imran, Handar Subhandi Bakhtiar, and Dirga Achmad, ‘Legal Standing and Authority of the Regional Representative Council in the Indonesia Constitusional System’, Amsir Law Journal, 1.2 (2020), 54–60. https://doi.org/10.36746/alj.v1i2.23.
Jayus, Jaja Ahmad, ‘Urgency of Legal Indigenous Communities’ Position in Indonesian Constitutional System’, Jurnal Media Hukum, 27.1 (2020), 79–98. https://doi.org/10.18196/jmh.20200144.
Jamieson, Fiona, ‘Judicial Independence: The Master Narrative in Sentencing Practice’, Criminology & Criminal Justice, 21.2 (2021), 133–50. https://doi.org/10.1177/1748895819842940.
Kochenov, Dimitry V., and Graham Butler, ‘Independence of the Court of Justice of the European Union: Unchecked Member States Power after the Sharpston Affair’, European Law Journal, 27.1–3 (2021), 262–96. https://doi.org/10.1111/eulj.12434.
Leloup, Mathieu, ‘An Uncertain First Step in the Field of Judicial Self-Government: ECJ 19 November 2019, Joined Cases C-585/18, C-624/18 and C-625/18, A.K. , CP and DO’, European Constitutional Law Review, 16.1 (2020), 145–69. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1574019620000024.
Lenaerts, Koen, ‘New Horizons for the Rule of Law Within the EU’, German Law Journal, 21.1 (2020), 29–34. https://doi.org/10.1017/glj.2019.91.
Lutfi, Mustafa, and Asrul Ibrahim Nur, ‘Reconstruction of Norm in Selection System of Constitutional Court Judge Candidates from the Perspective of the Paradigm of Prophetic Law’, Legality : Jurnal Ilmiah Hukum, 30.1 (2022), 116–30. https://doi.org/10.22219/ljih.v30i1.20744.
Mayoral, Juan A., and Marlene Wind, ‘Unleashed Dialogue or Captured by Politics? The Impact of Judicial Independence on National Higher Courts’ Cooperation with the CJEU’, Journal of European Public Policy, 29.9 (2022), 1433–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/13501763.2021.1974925.
Mazepus, Honorata, and Dimiter Toshkov, ‘Standing up for Democracy? Explaining Citizens’ Support for Democratic Checks and Balances’, Comparative Political Studies, 55.8 (2022), 1271–97. https://doi.org/10.1177/00104140211060285.
Mesonis, Gediminas, ‘The Principle of the Separation of Powers: The Ontological Presumption of an Ideologeme’, Baltic Journal of Law & Politics, 13.2 (2020), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.2478/bjlp-2020-0009.
Pech, Laurent, Patryk Wachowiec, and Dariusz Mazur, ‘Poland’s Rule of Law Breakdown: A Five-Year Assessment of EU’s (In)Action’, Hague Journal on the Rule of Law, 13.1 (2021), 1–43. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40803-021-00151-9.
Purba, Junesvan, and Hendri Goklas Pasaribu, ‘Mekanisme Pengangkatan Dan Pemberhentian Hakim Konstitusi Menurut Peraturan Perundang-Undangan’, Jurnal Kajian Konstitusi, 3.1 (2023), 99–117. https://doi.org/10.19184/j.kk.v3i1.39521.
Ramadhan, Febriansyah, and Ilham Dwi Rafiqi, ‘Study of Constitutional Court Decisions Cancelling All Norms in the Law’, Legality : Jurnal Ilmiah Hukum, 29.2 (2021), 286–308. https://doi.org/10.22219/ljih.v29i2.15434.
Sanders, Anne, and Luc von Danwitz, ‘Selecting Judges in Poland and Germany: Challenges to the Rule of Law in Europe and Propositions for a New Approach to Judicial Legitimacy’, German Law Journal, 19.4 (2018), 769–816. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2071832200022872.
Satriawan, Iwan, and Tanto Lailam, ‘Implikasi Mekanisme Seleksi Terhadap Independensi Dan Integritas Hakim Konstitusi Di Indonesia’, Jurnal IUS Kajian Hukum Dan Keadilan, 9.1 (2021), 112–38. https://doi.org/10.29303/ius.v9i1.871.
Satriawan, Iwan, Seokmin Lee, Septi Nur Wijayanti, and Beni Hidayat, ‘An Evaluation of The Selection Mechanism of Constitutional Judges in Indonesia and South Korea’, PADJADJARAN Jurnal Ilmu Hukum (Journal of Law), 10.1 (2023), 122–47. https://doi.org/10.22304/pjih.v10n1.a7.
Simona, FARKAŠOVÁ, ‘Constitutional Aspects of the Current Reform of the Selecting Constitutional Judges in the Slovak Republic and the Comparative Perspectives in Europe’, Juridical Tribune, 11.2 (2021), 150–73. https://doi.org/10.24818/TBJ/2021/11/2.02.
Śledzińska-Simon, Anna, ‘The Rise and Fall of Judicial Self-Government in Poland: On Judicial Reform Reversing Democratic Transition’, German Law Journal, 19.7 (2018), 1839–70. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2071832200023257.
Solanes Mullor, Joan, ‘Spain, Judicial Independence, and Judges’ Freedom of Expression: Missing an Opportunity to Leverage the European Constitutional Shift?’, European Constitutional Law Review, 19.2 (2023), 271–93. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1574019623000081.
Sulastri, Dewi, Firdaus Arifin, Anthon F Susanto, Uu Nurul Huda, and Mohd Zakhiri Md. Nor, ‘Institutional Integrity and Challenges in the Indonesian Constitutional Court Institution’, Jurnal Media Hukum, 32.1 SE-Articles (2025), 40–58. https://doi.org/10.18196/jmh.v32i1.24100.
Waldron, Jeremy, ‘Separation of Powers in Thought and Practice?’, Revista de Direito Administrativo, 279.3 (2020), 17–53. https://doi.org/10.12660/rda.v279.2020.82914.
Ximeng, Liu, and Li Zhiwen, ‘Efficacy of Judicial Independence in Explaining Financial Markets in Emerging Markets’, Borsa Istanbul Review, 23.5 (2023), 1132–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bir.2023.07.001.
Ziolkowski, Michal, ‘Two Faces of Polish Supreme Court After “Reforms” of The Judiciary System in Poland: The Question of Judicial Independence and Appointments’, European Papers, 5.1 (2020), 347–62. https://doi.org/10.15166/2499-8249/362.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Septi Nur Wijayanti, Retno Saraswati, Lita Tyesta Addy Listya Wardhani, Kelik Iswandi, Tanu Surana
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
